A/N- Someone recently asked me if this was abandoned. Its was a nice wake up call. I actually completely forgot all about my stories. Life was and still is in the way. But I've given up my 2nd job in favor of trying to be less stressful and I took the last two days to write this. I wanted to add on it more but it would have been 10,000 words and while nice, it's easier to space them out so I can get at least one chapter ahead so I don't slack off again. Thanks for waiting patiently. There are minimal errors, but I don't have time for a beta so just skip over them.
Chapter 8
When the video ended there was complete silence around the room, as each person seemed trying to gather their thoughts on what they had just seen. For Steve in particular, he was grinning proudly at what he had seen. Maybe this meant that Bucky would one day be 100% like he had been once before. While he himself was speechless, not everyone was.
James Rhodes wasn't sure how to feel at the moment. He had known from the moment they left that Tony wouldn't stay put. It wasn't in the man's, or now the little boy's nature to do what he was told. He was just surprised as how gentle the other man had been with him.
"Jarvis, do you really think the trigger word is a mixture of Russian and German?" Natasha asked, ever the spy and wondering what they could do about it.
"I do, he was taken and tortured by those who spoke those particular languages. It makes sense that it would not be in English and like I told young sir, there is no way that he could trigger Mr. Barnes. You on the other hand could, so I would be careful speaking Russian or German with him," he warned lightly.
Natasha nodded curtly, knowing she would stick with English for the time being. She turned her gaze back to the video that showed them still sleeping. "How did he not hear us?"
"I turned on the soundproofing, neither of them take kindly to being rudely awaken. I believe Mr. Barnes would shoot first and ask questions later," J.A.R.V.I.S replied honestly.
"But isn't that dangerous to Tony?" Clint asked quietly.
"You misunderstand me, Mr. Barnes would shoot you with one hand, while his other hand and body would move to protect young sir. I think you've found that my creator can be quite adorable when he wants to be and quite easy to love in this form," the A.I. replied truthfully.
"Isn't that the truth," Rhodey replied with a grin. "What's the next course of action then Jarvis?" He asked, fully trusting his friend's A.I.
"Allow me to wake them up, and then send the Doctor in," J.A.R.V.I.S answered easily.
"Why Bruce?" Steve asked quietly, wondering why he wasn't being asked to go in first.
"Mr. Barnes contrary to belief, trusts the Doctor. He associates him with being the cook in the Tower and he can feel how protective the man and his 'other guy' are of my creator. He would be quite comfortable with you in here Doctor, to know that if something happens you would protect Tony from him," The A.I. intelligently replied.
"And he would protect Tony from me if need be. I see we do understand each other," Bruce muttered out bitterly to himself but mostly everyone else heard anyway. He nodded before he headed towards the elevator.
He turned towards Rhodey who was staring with a stoic expression on his face and he sighed quietly, as it was obvious what the man wanted but it wasn't his place at the moment. The A.I. could be quite scary when he wanted to be. Bruce took a deep breath as the elevator climbed to the common room floor, waiting even as the door opened as he didn't want to accidentally spook Barnes.
"Jarvis, is he aware that I am here?" Bruce asked quietly.
"Yes, I have let him know who is coming," The A.I. answered back.
"The moment of truth then," the doctor grumbled out, hoping everything would be alright and he wouldn't hulk out. He took another deep breath before he walked out of the elevator, and looked towards the couch. The soldier was no longer laying on the couch but was looking silently back at him. He noted in fond amusement that the child was cuddled quite close to his chest.
Bucky had been beating himself up when he slept through the Avengers arrival. He had hoped to be back up and in Steve's room without them being the wiser. He had never even planned on falling asleep and the A.I. that was Tony's seemed to be conspiring against him. The child thankfully was asleep as far as he could tell, and he wanted to keep it that way as long as possible.
He didn't need to hear them all arguing and assume that they were fighting because of him. He had remembered how fragile children's emotions were. Especially given today and when Tony had his accident. He did not want to revisit that hysterical child again.
"Do you mind if I get started on dinner?" Bruce asked quietly as he stopped just inside the doorway of the living room.
"No I don't mind, I guess I should probably wake him up then," Bucky said lightly before he chewed his lip for a moment. "Do you think that Tony's A.I. could send the other James down next? I know how protective he is of him and he's got to be out of his mind with worry now," he added quietly.
"He is, but he trusts Jarvis to have Tony's best interest at heart. Anyway, thanks for looking after Tony today, I know you didn't have too and that the child can be a bit much at times," Bruce said apologetically.
"It wasn't a big deal, and the little one sought me out. Besides I do have experience dealing with little ones like him. I had a younger sister once and of course Steve, without me the little bugger wouldn't have survived his childhood," he said fondly.
Bruce was quite surprised at how open the other man was being, but he supposed that he hadn't really given the man a chance. And he felt some type away about it, but he promised himself that he would be better. "Of course, I'm going to get started on dinner. Did you have any preferences?" He asked kindly.
"I don't but Tony might," Bucky said with a small smirk.
"I know what foods that little one likes not to worry," Bruce said fondly before he made his way past the man and into the kitchen. He breathed a sigh of relief once he was out of the man's view, though he noted that it hadn't been that difficult to turn his back on the man. Which was strange and interesting all in one, he supposed that the Hulk and the Winter Soldier really did understand one another.
Bucky breathed out a quite sigh of relief when the Doctor passed them and headed into the kitchen. He looked up at the ceiling, before his eyes went back to the sleeping child in his arms. "You can send the other James up, I won't attack him," he murmured knowing Tony's A.I. would hear him.
"If you insist," Jarvis said quietly before turning his eyes on to the rest of the Avengers.
Rhodey watched the calm conversation of Bruce and Bucky in slight awe, the soldier didn't have that crazed or dead look he usually had in his eyes when they had dealt with him in the past. He perked up slightly however when the man of the hour spoke to Jarvis, and before the A.I. had to say anything Rhodey was already on the elevator.
"Thank you Jarvis," Rhodey said quietly once the elevator doors were closed.
"For what Colonel?" Jarvis asked, unsure of what his creator's best friend meant.
"For everything," Rhodey said not wanting to elaborate on it, watching the numbers get closer and closer to Tony. He sighed softly before he walked out of the elevator as the door opened.
Bucky was gently prodding the child in his arms, as he knew everything would go much smoother if Tony was awake. Not to mention Bucky wanted to see how the child was going to weasel his way out of his conversation with the other James. The little boy had totally disobeyed him and he wanted to know what was going to happen.
Tony whined softly as he pushed the hands that were poking him in the side. "I sweeping," he whined out.
"We have company Anthony, time to wake up," Bucky said quietly.
"Only Thowr calls me dat, I'm Tony," Tony said with a frown as he opened his eyes to give the man a dirty look.
Before Bucky could comment on that, someone else beat him to the punch. "Anthony Edward Stark, what were you thinking?" Rhodey called out calmly.
Tony could admit to himself, that both his adult mind and child mind froze at such a tone. He swallowed thickly before he turned with a sheepish look towards the voice of his best friend.
"Whodey, I can expwain," he rushed out as he slid off the soldier to fully look at him. He made his eyes as wide and innocent as they could go, and at this age he looked pretty darn adorable and innocent if he could say so himself.
"Oh you can? Then please do Anthony I'm all ears," Rhodey said just managing to keep a straight face at the child's expression. He refused to be suckered in by the cute expression on the boy's face. Not to mention, he knew that if he called him Tony then the boy would know that he was only kidding and he didn't want to do that yet.
"Well, see, what actually happened was when you guys weft me, I got weally lonely," Tony stammered out.
"Oh? And what happened to that promise you gave me before we left?" Rhodey said allowing a smirk to finally grace his face. It seems that kid Tony didn't have such a mask as adult Tony and as such he couldn't even try to be annoyed with it. It all worked out didn't it?
Tony chewed his lip thoughtfully before turning back to Bucky for some help, but the other man wasn't even looking at him. "I sowwy?" Tony said hopefully, wondering if he was going to be in trouble for this.
"You will be when I get done with you," Rhodey said before grinning and running at the child. "Tickle Attack!" He yelled out fondly.
Tony gasped before turning around and running as fast as his little legs could carry him, giggling the entire time. He knew it was only a matter of time until Rhodey caught him and he couldn't wait to be tickled mercilessly. "You'll nevew catch me!" He shrieked out.
"Yes I will, here I come!" Rhodey replied as he ran easily after that the child, following him as he weaved and out of places so he wouldn't get caught.
Bucky shook his head before chuckling as the Iron Patriot caught the child and started tickling his sides. He was way to amused and easily started to clean up the messes they had made earlier, completely relaxed at this point. As he turned to grab one of the child's trains to set it back on the track he made eye contact with the other James.
He only gave a slight nod at him before turning back to what he was doing. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this lighter. He knew he wasn't completely healed but it had been a long time since he remembered feeling this good.
~*~*~*~Line Break~*~*~*~*
For Dinner that night, Bruce had made a lovely meal of Spaghetti and Meatballs with salad and Garlic bread which they all enjoyed immensely. Tony himself was incredibly happy as he sat in between both of his James's as the adults talked. He couldn't feel the tension that had been in the tower for the last few days or so.
The Team thankfully wasn't in any danger of breaking up anymore and he was glad. The best part about all this, was that Rhodey was still going to be staying with them for a while. Tony yawned tiredly before leaning into Bucky's side, curiously noting that the man only put an arm around him as he continued his conversation with Natasha.
"I think it's time for someone's bedtime," Clint remarked softly as he saw the little boy's eyes flitter shut.
"He only needs to put his pajamas on, I gave him a bath earlier today," Bucky said as he gently picked up the child and held him off to the other James. He shook his head in bemusement, he would need to pick something to call the man or this was going to get confusing.
"Not a problem, I'll set him up in my room on this floor and then come back so we can talk about what we need to do now," Rhodey said seriously. He knew they had refrained from talking about missions or anything Avenger related at the dinner table because of the child.
They didn't want him getting any ideas, not to mention what if they triggered something in his memory. He could only imagine his adult friend stuck in the body of a child and how he would react. No; it was much safer to talk about such things when the boy was out or sleeping.
They would have to ask J.A.R.V.I.S. to keep an eye out on him, they didn't want him overhearing anything if he woke up before he was supposed to. He had an idle thought of the Penthouse, but he didn't want Tony that far away from them, even if he could get in. He shook the thought away and got the child into his sleep things before he laid him down on the bed. Making sure the bathroom light was lit to give the room a small glow, he closed the bedroom door before making his way back to the common room kitchen. Rhodey retook his seat at the kitchen table that was now devoid of any food or dishes. He didn't say anything, taking that moment to look around at the rest of Tony's teammates.
"So, before we discuss anything, I need to know where we stand. Are Bucky and I still on the outs with the team, or are we allowed to still stay here?" Steve said bluntly, even as his heart thudded wildly in his chest.
Here the rest of the Avengers looked to Rhodey who only gave them an arch eyebrow in response before sighing. "I suppose so, J.A.R.V.I.S. feels that having Bucky here would be extremely beneficial to Tony's well-being, so I guess so. Just note that if you ever do something else like this in the future, you will be out. I give no fucks when it comes to Tony or his safety," Rhodey said seriously.
"Duly noted Colonel, it will not happen again," Steve promised him before breathing out a sigh of relief. "Will you be informing Ms. Potts then?"
"I will, right after we get done here," James replied, not sure how Pepper would react. At least not until Jarvis showed her the footage they had seen.
Steve nodded before he turned to the rest of his Team. "I'm not sure when Thor is planning on coming back, but until he does we will continue to be down two crucial team members. Thankfully the Colonel as decided to stay for a while, purely Tony's benefit of course but he has said he will help us," Steve started out.
"That's good, hopefully Frigga will be able to help us like Thor said," Natasha said seriously.
"Me too. I miss my lab buddy," Bruce said fondly.
"I know today wasn't ideal for everyone but it did work out. And I think that we might be able to use Bucky's skills in the field, so there is that," Steve added slyly.
"Yes I do agree, I do want to see what the other James can do on our team with us," Rhodey said with a smirk.
"I look forward to fighting with you," Bucky said with the same expression. Oh this would be fun indeed.
As much as Clint enjoyed the camaraderie it seemed they all were forgetting something. "And who will stay here with Tony?" He pointed out.
"I will," Bruce said quietly, sometimes there were missions that the Hulk wasn't needed on. And he didn't like fighting anyway, so this was a win-win in his book.
"I don't know Bruce," Natasha said carefully. Her mind already going through the possibilities of him Hulking out in the tower with only the child here. Who would protect Tony from Bruce?
"I have never Hulked out here, though if ever I do both J.A.R.V.I.S. and I both know what to do. My room is equipped as well as a room in the tower to handle the Hulk," Bruce said as he took off her glasses to look at her. It seemed there would always be someone out there who would continue to think the worse of him.
"I think it's a good idea, you gave me a chance, why is the Doctor so different?" Bucky replied lowly, as he turned his gaze to his once red room companion. The Hulk and the Winter Soldier was so alike it was scary, why could she accept one but not the other?
Natasha turned away from those dark eyes before she stood up and shook her head. "I've said my part, if anything changes, I'm sure Clint will let me know. As it is, I'm going to bed," she said before turning and walking out of the kitchen.
She couldn't explain to them how Bruce differentiated from James. She after all knew what James was capable of, the Hulk was a wild card in her book and she couldn't trust it. That's not to mean she didn't trust the Doctor, but when they were one in the same, it was hard to separate them.
"Forget about her, I think it's a good idea," Clint said quietly as he watched his partner walk out of the room. He wasn't sure what was up with her lately.
"I agree," Rhodey replied easily, knowing how gentle Bruce was with Tony.
Bruce wasn't super surprised that Natasha didn't believe him capable of taking care of Tony. But he had learned long ago, that someone people were stuck in their ways. He would never do anything to endanger Tony. Tony had accepted him when no one else did, why on earth would he ever want hurt him?
~*~*~*~A Few days later*~*~*~*~*
A couple of days later saw the Avengers and their guest getting used to one another in the tower. Thankfully Tony was easy to diffuse any extra tension that might have popped up before even realizing it. As it was, they were currently getting ready to head down to the swimming pool for a pool day with the child.
Tony was ecstatic as he swung his and Bucky's metal arm as they headed to the pool. He was super excited to have all of his teammates more or less focused on him. The adult in him could feel a bit of tension between Bruce and Natasha but it didn't concern him. He was only 4 years old after all, and they could handle whatever it was that was going on. The tiny tot tugged on the hand that was attached to him and smiled as the owner grinned at him in return.
"Up pwease," he requested, his free hand reaching up towards the man.
"Of course bug, are you excited to swim again?" Bucky said as he swung the child up in his arms, and settled him on his hip.
"Yes, I not that good of a swimmer but Bwuce and Cwint said dey would teach me," Tony said proudly. "Can you swim Bucky?"
"Yes, I'll be there to help you as well," Bucky replied seriously. He took his role of protector very seriously, just like the other James.
"Good," Tony said before he pressed his cheek against the other man's happily.
The tiny tot turned to look over at Steve, and make a funny face only to cringe and immediately slap his hands over his ears, at the loud blaring alarm resounded around the tower.
"Fuck, why is it that whenever we actually strive to do something with Tony, we get called to assemble?" Clint spat out as Steve calmly asked Jarvis to silence the alarm.
Tony's eyes were wide as he slowly took his hands from around his ears, and looked from his teammates before he was looking at Rhodey. "No swimming?" He asked, the adult in him quite sad to hear how pitiful his little voice sounded. He had been looking forward to this too!
"I'm really sorry Tony, but not right now at least," Rhodey said softly.
Tony bit his lip before he wiggled in the arms who currently held him, so the man would let him go. He didn't want to watch them get ready, knowing that they would just leave him here all alone again.
"Don't be like that kiddo, we will be back," Clint promised him as he ruffled his hair before he hurried out of the room to get suited up.
Bucky sighed, refusing to let the child down as he knew the boy would probably go run away and hide and cry somewhere. And he would rather be able to comfort the child immediately instead of having to find him first. "I'll stay behind," he volunteered.
"No, I think we might need you, it doesn't seem like too much to handle. This is what we were actually talking about, Bruce you can stay here with Tony," Steve decided as he watched the t.v that was monitoring the situation downtown.
Tony perked up at that, his own gaze going to the television as he caught a look at who exactly was wreaking havoc in the city. "It's Doctow Doom! Why do you guys gotta go? He's da Fantastic Fouw nemesis," Tony pouted out, bottom lip actually poking out at that. This wasn't even fair.
"I don't even want to know, how you know that Tony," Rhodey said in amusement as he watched the Black Widow hurry out of the room.
"With Bucky on our side, we easily have the opportunity to knock him out for the count. I think that the Fantastic Four might be out of the country. Otherwise they would be all over this and Fury wouldn't have even contacted us," Steve mused before he nodded to the remaining superheros. "Let's go,"
"Be good for the Doctor bug," Bucky said as he kissed the top of the child's head before he passed the child over to Bruce.
"I will, bye Whodey, bye Bucky, bye Stebe!" Tony called out as he absently played with Bruce's hair.
Tony was surprised as the Avengers left the tower via the Quinjet that they had left him alone with Bruce. He smiled brightly as the man of the hour, set him on his feet carefully. "Let's go to youw woom," Tony said happily.
"Lead the way little guy," Bruce said easily, feeling more in control of the Hulk then he ever felt. See he had a hunch that despite the earlier issues that this was going to be a good day.
Tony led the way to the elevator, pressing the button for Bruce's floor before he gazed up at the man happily, even as a dark feeling in his chest tried to make him sad. He shook his head firmly trying to ignore it, but he couldn't. What was going on? "Bwuce, can I ask you somefing?" He asked softly.
"Of course Tony," Bruce said bending down so he was on the child's eye level.
"How come Bucky didn't stay wiff me wike last time?" Tony asked quietly.
"Because Steve believed that he would be a better asset to the team today," Bruce replied honestly.
"But Bucky isn't an Avenger," Tony pointed out.
"Well not officially, but he will be eventually," Bruce told him truthfully.
Tony swore his heart stopped for a moment, his little hand coming to rest on the arc reactor, wincing at the painful sensation that caused him. He gasped out softly, as his little eyes filled with tears. What did this all mean for him then? Had they given up on finding a cure for him? Was Bucky to be his replacement for the team?
"Tony, what's the matter? Is the arc reactor? Is it hurting you? Talk to me buddy," Bruce stated frantically as he saw the anguished look on the boy's face.
Tony rested his little chin on his chest, as his body gave off a rather painful hiccup as he tried to keep his sobs to himself. The tiny tot fell to his knees as he gasped for air, he had thought that the lack of pain from the device he hadn't been feeling had healed him somewhat but he had been sorely mistaken.
He couldn't stop the tears from falling down his face from both the grief from being replaced as well as the pain of the reactor. He could hear Bruce but he couldn't answer him, at least not yet. He had to way until the fit had passed. It felt like forever until finally he could catch his breath, his lungs on fire but not as intense as before. "I okay," he gasped out.
"You most certainly are not okay," Bruce said, his hands shaking from fear and the tips of fingers returning to their normal skin color instead of the green tint they had gone. They had assumed that the arc reactor wasn't causing the child any pain but that was a mistake on their part. He would be discussing this as soon as everyone else came back. As it was, they were going up to his room to rest for a bit. He didn't want the child to strain himself again.
Tony closed his eyes, calmly catching his breath and waiting until the pain was just a dull throb in the back of mind. He leaned against the man's leg, before he felt himself getting picked up.
"We are going to go lay down for a bit," Bruce told him tightly. He had been so afraid for a moment, unsure of how he could help the child.
Tony only nodded, unable to verbal protest. It had been a long time since he had a fit such as that one. For just a moment he had felt like he was actually going to die, and the child part of him had been terrified. He never wanted to feel terror like that again.
Bruce stepped off the elevator and carried the child towards his bedroom where he carefully laid on the bed with the child resting on his chest. "Just try to relax Tony," he told the tiny child.
"Kay," Tony breathed out as he tried to relax by matching his breathing to Bruce's.
The Doctor wanted the child to relax as much as possible but at the same time he needed to the arc reactor. He hoped it hadn't move, he hadn't given it much thought because he often forget that the device was under the child's shirt. It was an oversight on all their parts but it would be rectified soon enough. "Okay buddy, I need to take off your shirt okay?" He said calmly.
"Why?" Tony asked curiously.
"I need to check that the reactor hasn't shifted," Bruce said softly.
Tony the adult part of him that is, knew that his science bro had a point, and he trusted no one other than him, Jarvis and Pepper and Rhodey to do this for him. "Otay," he said softly before he carefully moved off the man. "You haff to hewp," Tony told him knowing from previous fits that it might hurt to lift his arms so soon.
Bruce nodded as he carefully pulled the shirt off the child. He sighed softly at how inflamed the boy's chest look, littered with scars as it was. "Oh Tony," he said morosely.
"It's not dat bad," Tony said softly as he looked down at his little chest himself.
"I just wish we had of known this was hurting you all this time," Bruce said quietly, his tone displaying how much the child's chest affected him. How could they not have realized this? He ignored the stirring in his gut, as he took a deep breath, he needed to remain calm or he would end up proving Natasha right.
Tony didn't like the sad tone that Bruce had and quickly turned around so the man didn't have to see his chest anymore. He didn't realize that his teammate was fighting for control or he would have just put his shirt back on. As it was, he wasn't even thinking about the array of scars, caused by his father's belt that covered his little back. He just didn't want Bruce to be hurting anymore on his behalf.
It was out of his control, Bruce realized as the moment he saw the child's crisscrossed scars that covered his tiny back, his self-restraint snapped. "Tony run!" He growled out as he got off the bed and tried to get out of the room before he transformed. It didn't happen, as he let out a loud roar and his vision faded to black.
Tony jolted, his little head turning to look at his friend, as his alter ego quickly emerged instead. "Bwuce!" His little mind screamed out before his adult mind gained a moment of control and toppled over the bed and crawled underneath it.
He didn't need to scream for Jarvis and he could hear his A.I. already doing something he just didn't know what. He could hear the Hulk stomping through the rooms, knowing it was lockdown mode and while he was amazed that everything worked, he never expected to be in here with him. At least not in his child form.
"Young sir, please stay where you are until I can get Doctor Banner, a few rooms away from you for you to escape," Jarvis stated his tone tight as he worried just for his creator's safety.
"Bruce won't hurt me Jarvis," Tony promised him.
"I don't want to take that risk sir," Jarvis told him frankly.
Tony knew his A.I. was right, especially because he didn't even have the Iron Man's suit to count on if something went bad, but he had a feeling. A good feeling in his heart that the Hulk would not hurt him. The only reason Bruce even hulked out was because he had seen how hurt his tiny body was.
Ignoring the reasoning of his A.I. Tony carefully slid out from underneath the bed. He noted in pride that all the reinforced furniture and walls were still in impeccable condition. Swallowing his nervousness, he carefully started his trek to see where his wayward teammate had gone.
Tony as stealthily as his little four-year-old body could be, made his way through the apartment, until he came to the source of the noise. The Hulk was growling and was smashing on the window, that thankfully wasn't giving out. He didn't even think about it, he just ran out into the room. "Hulk you stop dat, if you bweak da window you'we gonna get in twouble!" The tiny tot yelled out.
The Green monster, known as the Hulk turned from where he had been pushing the window trying to get free and faced the small human. He had remembered Bruce, the weakly had seen how someone had hurt this child, this child who he knew to be the 'tin man'. The tin man, belonged to him, and to have someone hurt something that belonged to Hulk, made him very angry indeed.
Tony swallowed the fear at the lack of recognition in those green eyes, feeling that for once this might have been a truly bad idea. "Bwuce?" He croaked out, frozen stiff in his fear.
"Bwuce gone, Hulk out now. Who hurt my tin man?" Hulk grunted out.
Tony quirked a smile at the possessiveness he could hear in the Hulk's tone. He would need to watch this footage over much later with Bruce to show him, as the man would never believe him. It would have to wait until he was aged up of course, but he could be very patient. "My daddy, but he's dead now," Tony replied childishly.
"Bruce help tiny boy?" Hulk asked out.
"Yes, my Bwuce is hewping me awot," Tony said with a grin.
"Good, Hulk help tiny boy too, come on," Hulk said as he stomped over to the child and gently lifted him to sit on his shoulders.
Tony giggled as he looked around from this vantage point, feeling completely at ease. He no longer felt any fear, he just felt like he had gain yet another protector and that made him feel very good inside. "Whewe we going?"
"To rest, tiny boy need his sleep," Hulk rumbled out.
The child could admit that he was in fact tired and didn't protest, watching in bemusement as the Hulk carried him back towards the bedroom. But instead of setting him down on the bed, the green man took a seat on the floor and carefully cradled the child in his arms. "Hulk protect tiny boy," he declared.
"I'm Tony," Tony told him as he snuggled in the Hulk's arm.
"Hulk protect Tony, now go sleep Tony," the Hulk said as he quieted down so as not to disturb the child.
Tony smiled softly and closed his eyes, and relaxed. It didn't take long for the little boy to fall into a restful sleep, carefully cradled in the green Giants arms.